Volcano Viewing Around the World

Volcano Viewing Around the World

A new river of lava from the Kilauea volcano appeared in August 2011. Kilauea has erupted almost constantly since 1983.

ABC News

Volcano Viewing Around the World

A new river of lava from the Kilauea volcano appeared in August 2011. Kilauea has erupted almost constantly since 1983.

ABC News

Volcano Viewing Around the World

Kilauea, the world's most active volcano, is drawing international focus to the Big Island of Hawaii with its ongoing eruptions, but Hawaii's not the only place in the world that offers awesome volcano viewing. From Central America to the South Pacific to Africa, volcanoes make unforgettable sightseeing and unique activities for the adventurous traveler.

Volcano Viewing Around the World

In April 2010 this Icelandic volcano with the unpronounceable name Eyjafjallajokull made a mess of trans-Atlantic air travel, but within a year it had become one of Iceland's top tourist draws. Volcano tours now rival attendance at the country's other best-known attraction, the famed Blue Lagoon, reports the North America office of Visit Iceland.

Volcano Viewing Around the World

Mt. Etna in Sicily has for millennia enjoyed a special place in people's hearts. This volcano has been restless for at least 3,500 years, and ancient cultures, from Greek to Roman to Arab, wove it into their legends. Because Etna never sleeps, people have learned to give it just the right amount of distance. Thus, you see sheep happily grazing on its slopes while the summit lets off steam.

Volcano Viewing Around the World

Few people realize this, but Yellowstone National Park is also known as the Yellowstone Supervolcano. That's right, the home of so much natural beauty and wildlife is also a volcanic hotspot regularly monitored by the U.S. Geological Survey. The center of the volcano action lies under Yellowstone Lake.

Volcano Viewing Around the World

When Mt. Lassen erupted in 1914, ash clouds blew as high as 30,000 feet into the air. But that wasn't the only dramatic event for this Northern California volcano. Geological and hydrothermal features like Chaos Jumbles and Bumpass Hell are the eerie modern-day mementos of Lassen's heated roilings. Further out from the center, dozens of secret hot springs are secreted within the park and surrounding areas.

Volcano Viewing Around the World

As forbidding as it might seem to live in the shadow of a restive volcano, people just can't stay away from Arenal. Its daily eruptions are a sightseeing perk, its hot springs are world-renowned, and the off chance of death by laval flow doesn't bother anyone, from backpackers to hotel developers. There's magic about this Costa Rican volcano smoldering over the high jungle.

Volcano Viewing Around the World

Cerro Negro in Nicaragua isn't an active volcano, but its landscape is almost lunar, so exhaustive was the damage wreaked by ages-old eruptions. Ironically, its blackened, ashed-out surface and steep incline makes it perfect to boogie-board down or, as devotees call it, ash board. Most ride seated as though they were sledding a brave few try standing up, skateboard/snowboard-style.

Volcano Viewing Around the World

Further to offbeat volcano adventures, St. Lucia offers a drive-in volcano experience featuring mud baths and nearby zip-lining. The drive-in volcano is La Soufriere, not to be confused with Soufrière Hills in Montserrat. Pictured are the Pitons, St. Lucia's famous twin peaks landmark, located just south of Soufriere.

Volcano Viewing Around the World

On the other side of the world, Papua New Guinea has not only active volcanoes but ancient extinct ones harboring never-before-seen species. The few travelers that make it to these South Pacific Islands can hike volcanoes, surf undiscovered breaks, and explore spots unseen by humans?a recent PNG contest invited divers to Name your own reef!

Volcano Viewing Around the World

Unbeknownst to most Americans, the Phillipines has more active volcanoes than almost anywhere else in the world between 18 to 25, depending on who's counting. This image is of Taal, noteworthy for Volcano Island, which is the active part and counted as separate from the much larger Taal caldera. Surrounded by a lake that now fills the ancient caldera, Volcano Island is described as the smallest active volcano in the world.